Pafos Gate, Nicosia
Dublin Core
Title
Pafos Gate, Nicosia
Description
Pafos (Paphos) Gate (GPS identification: X: 35.17385, Y: 33.35667) is one of the 3 entrances into the old Lefkosia (Nicosia) town, through the Venetian walls. In fact, this is the smallest of the 3 entrances. It was formerly known as ‘Gate of San Domenico’, as it replaced an earlier gate of the Frankish walls called ‘Porta di San Domenico’, and as the ‘Upper Gate’, because of its high altitude.
The structure is fairly simple, essentially comprising of an opening in the wall and a barrel vault roof. It is built with local porous calcarenite stone quarried from the Nicosia Formation. This stone is rich in calcite (60-77%, based on X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis of 3 samples collected in-situ). Its porosity and apparent density (EN 1936) range from 25-35% and 1580-1900 kg/m3, respectively. Its comprsesive strength (EN 1926) lies in the region 2.5-7.5 MPa.
The aforementioned tests for the characterization of the monument's stone were carried out in 2022, in the framework of a combined laboratory and in situ investigation that was conducted to determine the physico-mechanical properties of the building materials of the Pafos Gate. Sampling and testing was assigned to the Building Materials and LEDRA Laboratories of the University of Cyprus by C. ROUSHAS TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT LIMITED, in agreement with Platonas Stylianou & Associates Civil and Structural Engineering L.C.C.
The structure is fairly simple, essentially comprising of an opening in the wall and a barrel vault roof. It is built with local porous calcarenite stone quarried from the Nicosia Formation. This stone is rich in calcite (60-77%, based on X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis of 3 samples collected in-situ). Its porosity and apparent density (EN 1936) range from 25-35% and 1580-1900 kg/m3, respectively. Its comprsesive strength (EN 1926) lies in the region 2.5-7.5 MPa.
The aforementioned tests for the characterization of the monument's stone were carried out in 2022, in the framework of a combined laboratory and in situ investigation that was conducted to determine the physico-mechanical properties of the building materials of the Pafos Gate. Sampling and testing was assigned to the Building Materials and LEDRA Laboratories of the University of Cyprus by C. ROUSHAS TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT LIMITED, in agreement with Platonas Stylianou & Associates Civil and Structural Engineering L.C.C.
Creator
University of Cyprus - Ledra and Building Materials Labs & The Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ΕΤΕΚ)
Publisher
University of Cyprus - Ledra and Building Materials Labs & The Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ΕΤΕΚ)
Contributor
University of Cyprus - Ledra and Building Materials Labs
Rights
University of Cyprus - Ledra and Building Materials Labs
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Photos taken by Ioannis Ioannou, University of Cyprus - Ledra and Building Materials Labs
Files
Collection
Citation
University of Cyprus - Ledra and Building Materials Labs & The Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ΕΤΕΚ)
, “Pafos Gate, Nicosia,” MONUMENTS & TRADITIONAL BUILDINGS OF CYPRUS, accessed June 4, 2026, https://monumentmaterials.omeka.ucy.ac.cy/items/show/5.